Briquette for growing of plants



April 2, 1968 o. MELVOLD BRIQUETTE FOR GROWING OF PLANTS 4 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Jan. 9,

FIGS

' IA IVENTOR' ODD MELVOLD April 2, 1968 o. MELVOLD 3,375,607

BRIQUETTE FOR GROWING OF PLANTS 4 Filed Jan. 9, 1967 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG. 7

mvE/vnm O D D M E LVO L D airw- Y? fiw April 2, 1968 o. MELVOLDBRIQUETTE FOR GROWING OF PLANTS 4 Sheets-Sheet .3

Filed Jan. 9, 1967 J [NVEN It 1 000 MELVOLD O. MELVOLD April 2, 1968BRIQUBTTE FOR GROWING OF PLANTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 9, 1957 FIG.I3

FIG. I4

XX XX FIG. I7

FIG. I6

INVENL/(IIP ODD MELVOLD mfl 3,375,607 BRIQUETTE FOR GROWING OF PLANTSOdd Melvold, Oslo, Norway, assignor to Me-Kox Industri,

Melvold & Koxvold, Oslo, Norway, a partnership ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A briquette of a compressed plant growth medium (e.g. peatmoss) which expands when contacted by water to a porous loose materialof increased volume is enclosed within a sleeve of water-resistantmaterial which is collapsed against the briquette to provide a reducedexternal size for shipmentand storage, but which is expansible to aninternal volume at least as great as the increased volume of the growthmedium for use in starting and growing plants. The sleeve can consist ofa plastic netting which is compressed against the briquette and forms ashaped unit. Typically, the briquette and sleeve will expand as much asfive to six times from storage to use condition.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser.No. 444,292, filed Mar. 31, 1965.

Background of the invention Quite a number of plants, vegetables,flowers etc. are planted or sown in hot houses, frames and the like, tobe set out in the open at a later stage. For this purpose small plantpots of clay have been used to a large extent, but such pots areexpensive and large storage spaces are required when the pots are out ofuse. The work required when the plants are set out in the open is alsoextensive due to the fact that the earth with the plant has to beremoved from the pot and transferred to the earth.

An important improvement was obtained when the now well known pots madeby pressed peat moss appeared, as these pots could be set out or plantedin the earth together with the plant, the roots penetrating the peat potwhich also could supply additional nutrition for the plant. Such knownpots of pressed peat are, however, associated with certain disadvantagesduring manufacture and distribution as the pots easily are broken apart,particularly during watering of the pots due to the fact that theybecome weakened when moist and easily are torn. Further these pots haveto be filled with a suitable quantity of earth by the consumer, a workwhich also is time consuming.

It is also previously known to press peat moss together under a fairlylow pressure to obtain blocks to be used as plant medium, but suchblocks have not been used extensively as they do not withstand handlingand transport particularly in a moist state.

It is further known to compress peat moss to briquettes and ship theseas growth medium, and the receiver can then water the pressed briquetteswhich will swell and become porous. (See, for example, US. Patent No.1,988,307.) However, the obtained wet peat moss will be a loose materialwhich will have to be filled in a pot or similar container to be used asgrowth medium. While such briquettes thus reduce the volume of thegrowth medium for shipment, the briquettes cannot be used alone withouta pot or other container.

States Patent 0 Summary of the invention The present invention canutilize a briquette of the known type, but which is modified so that itwill retain its shape after watering and swelling and thereby avoid theuse of a container such as a flower pot. In one preferred embodiment, acomparatively hard pressed briquette is manufactured, containing thenecessary nutritional matter and growth promotion agents for plants, thebriquette when being watered, swelling to a common pot shape or to ablock of a desired shape, and constituting a complete pot filled withearth and nutritional matter in which the planting immediately may bemade, the pot keeping its form for later setting out in the open.

According to the invention this is achieved by providing a known growthmedium composed of substances suitable as growth medium which maycontain nutritional matter for the plant and which will expand or swellwhen water is added, with a shape defining body which may be a mesh,lattice or grid which extends around the medium or may be in the form ofa sleeve surrounding the medium.

The shape defining body may be made from synthetic plastic materials(such as nylon) or similar materials in the form of nets, so that theroots easily will penetrate the measures of the net, or the net may bemade from materials (for example rayon) or other compositions which inaddition may serve as nutrition for the plants, but the material must beresistant to water to retain the expanded growth medium.

The growth medium may comprise only peat moss which is compressed to thedesired extent as this material when adding water, will absorb same andswell to the desired porosity for the growth medium. The peat moss mayalso be admixed with other materials; such as nutritional matter for theplants, and also with materials for increasing the porosity, for exampleporous perlite, i.e. perlite heated to make it light and porous. Themedium may also consist of a mixture of rich soil and peat moss togetherwith nutritional matter.

Brief description of the drawings Illustrative embodiments of theinvention are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating thebeginning of the compressing step in forming a preferred assembly of theplant growth means and pot means;

FIGURE 2 is aside elevational view of the same assembly after thecompletion of the compressing step;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the compressed, unitary mesh sleeveand peat moss briquette in its fully compressed condition for storageand shipment;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective side elevational view showing the sameassembly in fully expanded condition with a plant growing therein;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the presentinvention wherein the compressed briquettes are received withinconnected envelopes of pockets;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating how the compressedbriquettes in the embodiment of FIG. 5 can be contacted with water;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the same embodiment with the growthmedium expandedand ready for use;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of two of the units of the embodiment ofFIG. 7 illustrating how the units may be separated for planting in theground;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of one of the units of the sameembodiment showing a plant growing therein;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a box or flat con- 3 taining theplurality of the assemblies of the same embodiment;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of still another embodiment wherein aplurality of the expansible briquettes are employed with each expansiblepot means, the briquettes being shown in their compacted condition whilethe sleeve pot is shown partially expanded;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 after theexpansion of the briquettes to fill the sleeve pot with the growthmedium;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of theinvention, the assembly being shown in collapsed condition;

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of the same embodiment as FIGS. 13and 14, except that the growth medium and mesh sleeve are shown inexpanded condition;

FIGURE 16 illustrates briquette assemblies, such as those of FIG. 13mounted on a continuous strip, the briquettes being shown in collapsedcondition;

FIGURE 17 is a side elevational view of the same embodiment as FIG. 16,except that the briquette assemblies are shown in expanded condition;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of a tray unit upon which a plurality ofthe briquette assemblies, such as those of FIGS. 1 to 4, are mounted tofacilitate handling; and

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a pan unit adapted for holding aplurality of the briquette assemblies, such as the assemblies of FIGS. 1to 4.

Detailed description In accordance with the present invention, there isprovided an assembly of plant growth means and pot means. The plantgrowth means is preferably in the form of at least one hard, compactedbriquette having side walls adapted to extend vertically. The briquetteis preferably composed essentially of a compressed plant growth medium,such as peat moss, which expand-s when contacted by water to provide aporous loose material of increased volume suitable for starting andgrowing plants. The improvement of the present invention particularlycomprises in combination with the expansible briquette of the characterdescribed, a collapsible-expansible pot means including sleeve means offlexible water-resistant material enclosing the briquette around atleast its side walls. The sleeve means is collapsed against thebriquette to provide an assembly of reduced external size. However, thesleeve means is expansible to provide an internal volume at least asgreat as the increased volume of the growth medium on being contactedwith water. The pot means is constructed so as to permit access to theupper portion of expanded growth medium for planting while effectivelyretaining the medium therein for plant growth.

Turning now to the specific embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4, the sleevemeans 10 is formed of plastic sheet material, such as a thermoplasticmaterial, including nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers ofpolyethylene and polypropylene, etc. In the illustration shown, theplastic sheet material 10 is perforated, or more specifically, itconsists of a netting providing mesh-type perforations. Such netting canbe formed from filaments by weaving or knitting, or the mesh structurecan be formed from thermoplastic sheet material by a slitting andstretching procedure somewhat analogous to the procedure for formingexpanded metal.

In producing the assembly of FIGS. 1 to 4, a piece of the plasticnetting 10 can be formed into a tube or sleeve having a lappedheat-sealed seam 11 extending vertically along one side. The bottom ofthe sleeve or tube 10 can then be closed by heat-sealing procedure, andthe pocket thus formed filled with the growth medium in a loose,uncompressed condition. The top of the sleeve can then be closed, andsealed by heat-sealing. The sleeve 10 contain- 4 ing the growth medium12 may then be compressed between suitable dies, suchv as thediagrammatically illustrated dies 13 and 14. By applying compressiveforce,

as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1, the dies can be brought together tocompress the growth medium while at the same time collapsing andcompressing the net sleeve therearound. In this way, the sleeve andbriquette form a shaped unit, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3.

Where the sleeve 10 prior to compression forms a complete enclosure forthe top of the assembly, as in FIG. 1, the upper die member 13 may beprovided with a downwardly extending central projection 13, which isdesigned to form a recess in the top of the compressed assembly, asindicated at 15 in FIGS..2 and 3. As will be noted, the central upperportion of the mesh sleeve 10 has been cut away in alignment with therecess 15, thereby facilitating access to the upper portion of thegrowth medium on expansion, as indicated in FIG. 4.

As the net sleeve 10 is collapsed and compressed about the growth medium12, which forms the hard, compressed briquette of FIGS. 2 and 3, theside wall portions of the sleeve will slightly pucker, while beingforced against the sides of the lbriquette, as indicated at 1011 in FIG.3. As there is also shown, the upper surface, as well as the lowersurface, which is not shown, will have puckers or pleated portions 10b,which may be formed either before or during the compression, and caninclude heat-sealed portions for retaining the growth medium at the topand bottom of the sleeve.

Where the growth medium is formed primarily of peat to its originalvolume, and will therefore be capable of expanding a comparable amount,such as anexpan sion of the order of at least of about five to six timesits compressed volume. This is indicated by comparing FIG. 3 with FIG.4. Not only does the mesh sleeve 10 expand with the growth medium 12,but its perforated structure permits the roots of the plant to grow outthrough the sides and bottom thereof. In FIG. 4, there is shown a plantP growing in the medium 12, with roots R extending through thecape-retaining sleeve 10.

While the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 is desirable for starting andgrowing flowers and vegetables, other embodiments may have advantagesfor particular applications. For example, the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to10 is particularly adapted for starting and growing trees. Since treeseedlings must be kept under greenhouse conditions for relatively longperiods of time before being planted outdoors in the soil, it isdesirable to provide units for this purpose which can be used to raisethe seedlings for periods as long as a year to two years. Since theunits must eventually be separated for planting, it is desirable tosubstantially preclude cross root growth between the units, therebyfacilitating the separation and planting of the units.

As shown in FIG. 5, the units consist of plastic sleeves designatedgenerally by the number 16 having compressed elongated briquettes 17therein. In the illustration shown,

the sleeves or tube 16 are connected by vertically extending webportions 18. For example, the connected series of sleeve 16 can beformed from two sheets 16a and 16b of a suitable thermoplastic, such aspolyethylene, which is heat-sealed portions at the web portions 18,preferably, as shown, along two horizontally spaced, vertically-etending lines 18a and 18b.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sleeves 16 are partially expanded. It will beunderstood,however, that for purpose of shipment and storage, the sleeve16 .will he collapsed about the briquette 17. Then when it is desired touse the planting units, they may be immersed in water while remainingconnected, as illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 6. As thereshown, a pan P is partially filled with water W, and the connectedsleeves 16 are placed in or passed slowly through the water with thebriquette 17 therein. The water can enter the sleeves 16 through theiropen tops 19, and also through the drainage opening 20 provided in thebottom thereof.

The fully expanded sleeve 16 with expanded growth medium 17 therein isshown in FIG. 7. The connected sleeves 16 can be stored in a fiat orcontainer, such as the container C shown in FIG. 10. As there indicateddiagrammatically, tree seedlings T can be grown in the units. When it isdesired to plant the units, they can be cut apart at the webs 18,preferably between the heatseal lines 18a and 1811, as illustrated inFIG. 8. The resulting unit with the tree ready for planting will appearas shown in FIG. 9.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 11and 12. This is particularly adapted for use with large plants such asrose bushes. A sleeve type container 21 having an open top 22 and aclosed bottom 23 can be formed from suitable thermoplastic sheetmaterial, such as polyethylene. The container 21 can be formed from oneor more pieces of the plastic material, the separate pieces being unitedby suitable seams or heat seals as indicated at 24 in FIG. 11. As thereshown, the sleeve container 21 is partially expanded for purpose ofillustration, although it will be understood that it will be stored andshipped in collapsed condition, as with the previous embodiments.

The principal difference between the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 andthe embodiments already described is that a plurality of the compressedbriquettes are provided within each container. As illustrated, twoelongated vertically-extending briquettes 25 are received within thesleeve container 21. With this form of the invention, the roots of alarge plant, such as a rose bush, can be inserted within the sleevecontainer 21 between the briquettes 25. On adding water to thecontainer, the briquettes will expand as indicated in FIG. 12, therebysubstantially filling the container 21 and enclosing the roots of theplant, with the rose bush or other large plant being centered within thecontainer. If only a single briquette were used, rather than a pluralityof briquettes, it would be difiicult to center the plant within thecontainer. If the plant is inserted before expansion of the briquette,the briquette will be on one side or the other of the roots, and theroots -will tend to be displaced toward the side of the container as thebriquette expands. On the other hand, it is difficult to plant the rootsof a large heavy plant after the expansion of the growth medium.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 13-15, the reference number 101refers to a sheet of cardboard, paper, synthetic foil or any othersimilar material, while 102 is the compressed growth medium and 103refers to a sleeve of a net of synthetic fibers, for example nylon.

As shown in FIG. 15, after water has been added, the growth medium 102will swell and expand to a block of a height five to six times thethickness of the briquette shown in FIG. 13, and the assembly of FIG. 15is ready for planting of a plant by making a hole in the usual mannerinto which the plant or seed or the like is placed. FIG. 15 shows howthe net 103 will follow and define the shape of the expanded briquetteso that the assembly is held together and can be handled.

FIGS. 16 and 17 disclose similar briquette assemblies 104, 105, 106 on acommon base 107. FIG. 17 shows the same briquettes after watering.

The briquettes of FIGS. 1317 can be manufactured in numerous ways, but avery simple matter will be to place a nylon net in the form of a sleeveopen at both ends, on a base plate, for example by means of adhesive,Whereatfer the sleeve is filled with the desired growth medium up to theheight of the expanded block, whereafter the sleeve and growth medium isplaced in a press and compressed with a suitable pressure to thebriquette which then will be complete and ready for distribution and useby the consumers.

In FIGS. 18 and 19, there is shown an extension and modification of theembodiments of FIGS. 16 and 17. Compressed assemblies, such as those ofFIG. 3 can be supported on a tray 200, as shown in FIG. 18, or in a pan201, as shown in FIG. 19. The tray 200 can be provided with hand grips202 to facilitate handling, and may have rows of openings 203. Theopenings 203 are of smaller diameter than the diameter of the compressedbriquette assemblies A. One of the briquette assemblies can therefore becentered over each of the openings 203, as illustrated, and the bottomof the assemblies adhesively attached, as by heat-sealing or by use of asuitable ad-. hesive, to the upper surface of the tray 200. When thetray has been filled with the briquette assemblies A, it can then beimmersed in water, causing the assemblies to expand to plantingcondition, as illustrated by the row of the assemblies shown in phantom.During the raising of the plants, they can be handled as a unit whileremaining on the tray 200. When it is desired to plant the individualplants, the assemblies A can be detached from the tray 200. If portionsof the bottoms of the assemblies are torn loose in this operation, thisdoes not present any difficulty where the assemblies are being plantedpromptly, as would be expected.

In FIG. 19, the bottom of the tray 200 is provided with rows of openings204. Each of the openings 204 is located between a pair of upwardlyprojecting retainer tabs 205, the tabs being spaced apart so as tosnugly receive and frictionally engage the compressed assemblies A. Theassemblies may therefore be readily inserted to fill the bottom of thetray. The tray can then be immersed in water to cause the assemblies toexpand to the condition indicated in phantom in FIG. 19. When it isdesired to plant the individual plants, the assemblies with the plantstherein can be readily removed by simply pulling them out from betweenthe tabs 205.

This invention is further illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLE I A sleeve of knitted nylon fibre is attached for example bygluing to a small cardboard piece, and the sleeve is filled with amixture consisting of of a compound of peat moss and nutritional matterand 20% expanded perlite. The peat moss is of a moisture content ofcirca 15%. The now filled sleeve is placed in a press and compressedwith a pressure of circa 60 kg./cm. The result is a briquette which ishard and solid, and will resist any stress and strains it may besubjected to during wrapping, distribution and unwrapping.

Such briquettes are easy to handle when they are to be placed in frames,hot houses and the like, preferably on a plastic sheet, whereafter theysimultaneously are sprayed with water until they have swollen to thedesired porosity, whereafter the planting in these blocks may followimmediately. After the watering, the water will partly evaporate andpartly be consumed by the plants so that an ordinary moisture content isobtained, and the blocks will then be lighter and sufficiently compactto be handled and set out in the open. The blocks must, however, bewatered in the usual way to enable the plants to grow under the correctconditions.

EXAMPLE 1r Briquette assemblies are prepared as illustrated in FIGS.1-3. Ground Sphagnum peat moss dried to a moisture content of 18-20% byweight is combined with 6 kg. of dolomitic lime and 2 kg. of mixedfertilizers (NPK 11.5- 5-145) per 300 kg. of peat. Small quantities ofmetal salts providing trace minerals can also be added, the peat mossand other ingredients being thoroughly mixed to assure a uniformdistribution. No binder for the peat moss is needed. The mesh sleevesare formed from plastic net sheet stock which is a copolymer ofpolyethylene and polypropylene. The sleeves are filled with the peatmossfertilizer mix, the filled sleeves before compression having adiameter of about cm. and a height of about 8 cm. Sufficient compressiveforce is applied to the assembly to reduce its height and volume toabout of the original, thereby obtaining a hard, integrated assembly ofthe plastic net and the peat moss briquette. While the amount of forcecan vary, usually a compressive force of about 20,000 kg. per briquetteis sufficient.

The resulting briquette assemblies will remain compressed for handling,shipping, and storage. On being immersed in water, they will expandrapidly, usually about five to ten minutes being sufiicient forcompletion of expansion to five to six times the compressed height andvolume. The pot assemblies are then ready for use in starting andgrowing plants.

It will be apparent that pot assemblies produced as described have manyadvantages. No soil preparation or soil disinfection is required, andthe plants are assured a high quality growing medium, including theexact requirements of fertilizers and trace minerals. Prior to use, thebriquette assemblies occupy minimum storage space, being easy to storeand handle. They are also cleaner and more convenient to use than potswhich must be filled with the growth medium.

In the foregoing examples, reference has been made to the moisturecontent of the peat at the time of compression. Although this may varyconsiderably while still obtaining a usable product, it has been foundadvantageous to control the moisture content to permit compressionwithout pressing out free water while retaining suflicient water so thatthe swelling of the peat briquettes are not unduly prolonged.

Typically, the moisture content can range from to 22%, and particularlyadvantageous results are obtained in the range of 18 to 20% moisture.

While this invention has been described in relation to preferredembodiments and many details have been set forth for the purpose ofillustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention is susceptible to other embodiments and that certain of thedetails described herein can be varied without departing from theprinciples of the invention. For example, the growth medium may alsoconsist of other materials, the main body being of a composition whichwill not expand or swell significantly when water is added, for exampleordinary rich soil to which compounds giving off gas when in contactwith water may be added. As an example on such compounds a mixture ofdry sodium bicarbonate and dry citric acid must be referred to, as sucha compound when water is added, will give off carbon dioxide andtherefore expand the body which will be porous.

Also, a lattice which extends throughout the medium and which isexpansible while shape-defining or shape-retaining, can be used. Such alattice may for instance consist of a substance forming large or smallopen pores filled with growth medium. Peat moss may for instance bemixed with a synthetic resin which can be foamed by blowing agents orthe resin and peat moss may be beaten to a foam wherein the pores arefilled with peat moss I and the walls are hardened in a known manner.When the walls are resilient this mass can be compressed to hardbriquettes which later, after watering, can be used as growth mediumwithout a pot or other container.

The peat moss medium may also be mixed with a binder which is not watersoluble after setting, using such a small amount of the binder that thepeat moss particles are glued together without being penetratedcompletely by the binder, so that the peat moss still will be adapted toabsorb water and swell, while the separate particles are bound togetherby glue or binder. In this way, a spongelike mass may be formed,consisting of a natural or artificial substance, for instance cellulosewhich constitutes the sponge body itself, the pores thereof being filledwith peat moss and/or other growth medium. This mass which may be in theshape of bars or loose mass or in the shape of large sheets, maythereafter be compressed to the desired briquettes as separate pots oras larger sheets which may be provided with score lines for laterdivision when the formed potswith plants are to be eparated.

The lattice bonding the growthmediurn may also be formed of athread-like structure, such as a lattice which will be formed byheating, for instance, latex which sets in a thread-like formdistributed throughout the mass and adapted to keep the wet expandedbody together.

I claim:

1. The assembly of plant growth medium and pot medium, wherein saidplant growth means is in the form of a compacted briquette having sidewalls adapted to extend vertically, said briquette being composedessentially of a compressed plant growth medium including peat mosswhich expands when contacted by water toa porous loose material ofincreased volume, and wherein the improvement particularly comprises thecombination of a collapsible-,expansible pot means and a hard compressedbriquette expansible when soaked with water to at least several timesits compressed volume, said pot means including sleeve means of flexiblesheet material enclosing said hard briquette around at least said sidewalls, said sleeve means beingcollapsed against said briquette toprovide a reduced external size for said assembly, said sleeve meansbeing expansible with said plant growth medium to an internal volume atleast at great as the said increased volumeof said growth medium, saidpot means permitting access to the upper portion of said expanded growthmedium for planting while effectively retaining the wet expanded mediumtherein for plant growth.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sleeve means is formed of aplastic sheet material.

3. The combination of claim 2. wherein said sheet material isperforated.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said sheet material consists ofnetting providing mesh-type perforations, said netting in its collapsedcondition being compressed against said briquette thereby forming ashaped unit therewith and wherein said expansible plant growth medium iscomposed substantially entirely of sphagnum peat moss.

5. The assembly of plant growth medium and pot medium, wherein saidplant growth means is in the. form of a compacted briquette having sidewalls adapted to extend vertically, said briquette being composedessentially of a compressed peat moss which expands when contacted bywater to a porous loose material of increased volume, and wherein theimprovement particularly comprises the combination of acollapsible-expansible pot means and a hard compressed briquetteexpansiblewhen soaked with water to at leastseveral times its compressedvolume, said pot means including sleeve means of plastic nettingproviding mesh-type perforations enclosing at least said side walls,said sleeve means being collapsed against said briquetteto provide areduced external size for said assembly, said sleeve means beingexpansible with said plant growth medium to an internal volume at leastat great as the said increased volume of said growth medium, said growthmedium being composed essentially of peat moss, said pot means providingan opening in the top thereof permitting access to the upper portion ofsaid expanded growth medium for planting while effectively retaining thewet expanded medium around the sides and bottom of said assembly duringplant growth.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said netting in its collapsedcondition is compressed against said briquette and forms a shaped unittherewith, said briquette having the characteristic of expanding atleast about five to six times its compressed volume.

7. A plurality of the assemblies of claim 5 in combination with platemeans, said plate means extending horizontally and said assemblies beingsupported in horizontally spaced-apart relation with their bottoms onthe top of said plate means, said assemblies being vertically expansibleto said increased volume Without separation of their bottoms from saidplate means.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said briquette is verticallyelongated and expansible horizontally, and said pot means is avertically-extending, horizontally-expansible tube of plastic sheetmaterial.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Wedge 4737 Alvord 47--34 Quillenet al 47--37 Fay 471 Chapman 4737 X Werner.

Planin.

Eavis 471.2

ROBERT E. BAGWILL, Primary Examiner.

